my boy has ate rocks since he was little no matter what i do to try and stop him it doesnt work. I have them all around the house so theres no way to keep him out of them. They are actually brick nuggets not rocks. Any ideas of how bad this is for him?

Well, its definitely not good for him. Rocks can cause obstructions and if they're jagged then, like anything else, they have the potential of perforating the intestines when his body tries to pass them.

I don't know what to tell you to do. My girl knows "drop it" and "leave it" and learned from a very young age that if she did pick up a rock she was always told to drop it. She doesn't pay attention to them now.

um, it's not good, that's for sure. I would probably use a basket muzzle until you get the 'no rock eating' training under control. always supervise when he's outside - don't leave him alone out there.

My boys also learned "leave it", "drop it" at a young age. A firm "leave it" stops them in their tracks.

Eating them or chewing them? For some reason, since she was a puppy, our girl has LOVED to chew pebbles. She never swallows them, but can hang out on the patio chewing a single piece of pea gravel for an hour. I know she doesn't swallow them, cuz when she is done she drops it in my lap. It's a weird, quirky behavior, but totally harmless.

bad, bad- chewing, eating, touching, etc. This is a disaster waiting to happen- and an empty bank account for you. Get a bulley stick for her (or him) to chew on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by monicaei

Eating them or chewing them? For some reason, since she was a puppy, our girl has LOVED to chew pebbles. She never swallows them, but can hang out on the patio chewing a single piece of pea gravel for an hour. I know she doesn't swallow them, cuz when she is done she drops it in my lap. It's a weird, quirky behavior, but totally harmless.

In fact, I have figured it out! It's not arthritis, or gluacoma, or anything else! Ten years of being forced to chew nothing but rocks is killing my dog! Thanks!

Sometimes, clarifying harmless behavior vs life threating ones should not lead you to assume other folks have nothing to add. Yes, EATING rocks is bad. Very bad. clarifying to puppy owners that each dog is different, and observing quirky behavior is important should not leave me open to being accused that I am somehow a negligent parent. Thanks though.

I do apologize if you thought I was calling you a neglectful owner. In fact, I thought it was the OP still asking the questions to piggy back off the original question of "is eating rocks bad". Yes, that was my fault for not clearing reading the screen name and instead just noticing both started with an "m".

madi - it is potentially terribly serious. even if what he's eating are small chips or chunks of rock, brick, whatever, they can accumulate in the stomach or intestines over time (some may pass, others not, and food can move around them to a point) - they can build up and cause a "sudden" or even gradual obstruction, or they can try to pass, as has been mentioned, and possibly perforate or rip the gut - these are life-threatening.

Sometimes mammals, including humans, eat bizarre things because of mineral deficiencies or other types of nutritional issues (malabsorption, allergies, etc...), and changing foods, giving more exercise, having blood tests for blood chemistries and counts, thyroid, and other conditions (plus an x-ray to see if there are peices of brick stored in his gut) might be helpful. And some do this out of boredom, frustration or other emotional issues - so have you tried things like agility, obedience, other ways to challenge and excite your pup, and redirect his mind?? (also, raw knuckle or marrow bones, or stuffed frozen Kong toys to chew on might also redirect his desires)... good luck!

(PS - monicaei - why are you interjecting your sarcasm into this - it really seems uncalled for and snarky! this wasn't your thread, and it is NOT at all "totally harmless"!)

__________________

their pawprints in our hearts never fade

Last edited by lolonurse; 07-18-2010 at 09:29 PM..

Join Date: May 2008

The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to lolonurse For This Useful Post:

Snarky is not what I was going for. My apologies. The idea I simply do not provide by girl with chews is insulting. I was originally expressing that some dobe behavior is simply that, quirky behavior, is factually accurate. Malnutrition is not a problem. She eats better than I do. :-) nor is boredom. We assumed she liked to chew single pieces of pea gravel, just cuz that's Jules. If it has somehow harmed her, the x-rays don't show it. Trust me. Got plenty recently. Say what you will, I was not trying to tell someone to let their dog eat rocks. Not at all. Thought I had something to add here. Clearly, no one else thinks that is the case. My bad.

Would think pea gravel,rocks,bricks any of that also would not be good for their teeth.Might wear the enamel away plus the possibility of an obstruction all sound very expensive to fix.Hang in there keep on teaching drop it or leave it works well also muzzles are ok but your have to really be careful in summer time.Good Luck with your Fur Kid.

Join Date: Sep 2006

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Patches Mom For This Useful Post:

I’m a little worried for your dog. Are you sure he’s swallowing them? Do you see them come out the other end?

A trip to the vet for an ex-ray just to look at his stomach and bowels would be a good idea. It’s possible for the rocks to build up, even if they are coming out when he poops, some could still be accumulating in there. I’m just concerned for you and your dog.

It has been said, ‘time heals all wounds.’ I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone. ~ Rose Kennedy

Join Date: Sep 2008

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Stone Hill For This Useful Post:

my boy has ate rocks since he was little no matter what i do to try and stop him it doesnt work. I have them all around the house so theres no way to keep him out of them. They are actually brick nuggets not rocks. Any ideas of how bad this is for him?

Hi Madi and welcome,
I would supervise your dog at all times around that area and keep him on leash or get a basket muzzle. Can you fence off the rocks for awhile until this gets under control (cheap light chickenwire even?). Or put tarps down? Or large tiles? You have to keep him safe from himself somehow.
Eating of rocks, especially constant eating of rocks, can be quite dangerous for your boy. I would also ask your veterinarian what they think about this behavior and what they have been in regards to it.

__________________
It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities ~JK Rowling
Life's challenges are not suppose to paralyze you, they are suppose to help you discover who you are ~Bernice Reagon

Eating them or chewing them? For some reason, since she was a puppy, our girl has LOVED to chew pebbles. She never swallows them, but can hang out on the patio chewing a single piece of pea gravel for an hour. I know she doesn't swallow them, cuz when she is done she drops it in my lap. It's a weird, quirky behavior, but totally harmless.

I would hardly consider this behavior "totally harmless". Chewing on rocks can damage the teeth -- excessive wearing, chips and even severe fractures can occur. It's certainly not something I would recommend allowing.

I agree....this can be very bad for your dogs health. Have you ever considered adding Vitamins and Minerals to the diet? I run an all natural supplement company and rehab horses, this would be a sign of depletion in some area, whether vitamins, minerals, or both.

Just a thought! That would be an easy fix and much better for your dog!

You should check out my post "i need a muzzle". My 9 month old Sammi ate a rock and ended having emergancy surgery. We almost lost her and it was a huge expense. I have ordered her a basket muzzle and she is only allowed outside when I'm with her. Trust me, if you even suspect that you dog is eating rocks you need to take action. It doen't take a huge rock to do damage.

even tyson used to eat rocks when he was around 5 months old. my vet said it is due to nutritional imbalance.then i changed him to raw diet and he was alright.he stopped after few days of starting raw.so i suggest check out with his nutrition .they do it because they smell the rock to some kind of mineral that is insufficient in their body(as said by my vet).so try to change his food

It's $1300.00 worth of badness..lol! When Jasmine was about 5 months old she ate a fist full of rocks. She had to have surgery to remove them. Supervise and re direct to something more fun. There has got to be something more fun than rocks..oh yeah I forgot it's a Doberman.

Just saw this post. Eating rocks is very bad. Baron's cousin and former kennelmate swallowed one about 1" in diameter and the person who had her (doesn't anymore) let it go for a few days and the poor thing almost died. Had to take 15" of her intestines out because she wasn't taken to the vet immediately. It is very serious. Be vigilent. Supervise and redirect!

__________________2015 Dobermantalk Calendar For Sale Now!

Lois and Baron

Signature by Sam1491Baron #1, Lonesome, Dax, and Misty Waiting at the Bridge